The 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' first season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nordiques franchise was originally awarded to a group in

San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, and was named the San Francisco Sharks, however, funding collapsed prior to the start of the season, and the WHA sold the organization to a

Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

group led by

Marcel Aubut Marcel Aubut, (born January 5, 1948) is a Canadians, Canadian lawyer, former president of the Canadian Olympic Committee and former president and Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a board ...

and Paul Racine. They named the club the Nordiques due to the northern location of the team.

Regular season

The Nordiques would name former

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

great

Maurice Richard Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard ( , ; August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL his ...

the head coach of the club, and played their first ever game on October 11, 1972, losing 2–0 on the road to the

Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1975–76 WHA season, 1976. Their home ice was the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and t ...

. The Nordiques would win their home opener, shutting out the

Alberta Oilers Alberta is a province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, the Northwest Territories to its north, and the U.S. stat ...

6–0 at

Le Colisée Le Colisée is an indoor arena in Chalon-sur-Saône, France. It is primarily used for basketball games, and it is the home arena of the LNB Pro A, French Pro A League club Élan Chalon. The arena seats 5,000 people. History The hall was inaugu ...

. After the game, Richard would step down from head coaching duties, as he was not comfortable doing the job, and Maurice Filion would take over. The Nords would end up just missing the playoffs, finishing the year with a 33–40–5 record, earning them 71 points, 3 behind the

Ottawa Nationals The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey team out of Ottawa that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season. History The WHA had originally granted a franchise to Doug Michel for "Ontario". ...

for the final playoff position in the Eastern Division. Offensively, Quebec was led by defenceman J. C. Tremblay, who led the WHA in assists with 75 and led the Nordiques with 89 points. Alain Caron would score a team high 36 goals.

Michel Parizeau Michel Gérard Parizeau (born April 9, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and head coach who played two seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers. Parizeau also played ...

and Andre Gaudette would each break the 70 point barrier, recording 73 points and 71 respectively.

Pierre Roy Pierre Roy (born March 12, 1952) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played 316 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Quebec Nordiques, Cincinnati Stingers, and New England Whalers New or NEW may refer t ...

would lead the club with 169 penalty minutes, while Michel Rouleau would get 142 in 52 games after being acquired by the Philadelphia Blazers. In goal, Serge Aubry would get the majority of playing time, earning a club high 25 wins and a team best 3.60 GAA along with 2 shutouts.

Season standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 11 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 0–2 , ,

, , 0–1–0 , , 0 , - , 2 , , October 13 , ,

, , 0–6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–1–0 , , 2 , - , 3 , , October 19 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–3 , ,

New England Whalers New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

, , 2–1–0 , , 4 , - , 4 , , October 21 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–1–0 , , 6 , - , 5 , , October 22 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–2–0 , , 6 , - , 6 , , October 24 , , Houston Aeros , , 3–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–2–0 , , 8 , - , 7 , , October 26 , ,

Minnesota Fighting Saints The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972 to 1976 ...

, , 4–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–2–0 , , 10 , - , 8 , , October 29 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–2–1 , , 11 , - , 9 , , October 31 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 4–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–3–1 , , 11 , - , - , 10 , , November 2 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 3–6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–3–1 , , 13 , - , 11 , , November 4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–5 , ,

, , 6–4–1 , , 13 , - , 12 , , November 5 , ,

Chicago Cougars The Chicago Cougars were a professional ice hockey team in Chicago. They competed in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the International Amphitheatre. History During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals ...

, , 2–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 7–4–1 , , 15 , - , 13 , , November 8 , ,

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

, , 2–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 8–4–1 , , 17 , - , 14 , , November 11 , , Houston Aeros , , 1–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 9–4–1 , , 19 , - , 15 , , November 15 , , New York Raiders , , 4–7 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 10–4–1 , , 21 , - , 16 , , November 16 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–5 , ,

, , 10–5–1 , , 21 , - , 17 , , November 18 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–7 , , New York Raiders , , 10–6–1 , , 21 , - , 18 , , November 21 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–4 , ,

, , 10–7–1 , , 21 , - , 19 , , November 24 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–5 , ,

, , 10–8–1 , , 21 , - , 20 , , November 26 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–4 , ,

, , 10–9–1 , , 21 , - , 21 , , November 28 , ,

, , 2–6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 11–9–1 , , 23 , - , - , 22 , , December 2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–7 , ,

, , 11–10–1 , , 23 , - , 23 , , December 3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–2 , ,

, , 12–10–1 , , 25 , - , 24 , , December 5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–2 , ,

, , 13–10–1 , , 27 , - , 25 , , December 7 , ,

, , 3–1 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 13–11–1 , , 27 , - , 26 , , December 9 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–2 , ,

, , 14–11–1 , , 29 , - , 27 , , December 10 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–7 , ,

, , 14–12–1 , , 29 , - , 28 , , December 12 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 2–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 15–12–1 , , 31 , - , 29 , , December 13 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–9 , , New York Raiders , , 15–13–1 , , 31 , - , 30 , , December 15 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–6 , ,

, , 15–14–1 , , 31 , - , 31 , , December 17 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 16–14–1 , , 33 , - , 32 , , December 19 , ,

, , 3–7 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 17–14–1 , , 35 , - , 33 , , December 23 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 1–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 18–14–1 , , 37 , - , 34 , , December 24 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–6 , ,

, , 18–15–1 , , 37 , - , 35 , , December 26 , , New York Raiders , , 5–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 18–16–1 , , 37 , - , 36 , , December 28 , ,

, , 5–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 18–17–1 , , 37 , - , 37 , , December 29 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–5 , ,

, , 18–18–1 , , 37 , - , 38 , , December 31 , ,

, , 4–8 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 19–18–1 , , 39 , - , - , 39 , , January 8 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–5 , , New York Raiders , , 20–18–1 , , 41 , - , 40 , , January 9 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–7 , ,

, , 20–19–1 , , 41 , - , 41 , , January 12 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–3 , ,

, , 20–20–1 , , 41 , - , 42 , , January 13 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–9 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 20–21–1 , , 41 , - , 43 , , January 16 , ,

, , 4–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 21–21–1 , , 43 , - , 44 , , January 18 , , New York Raiders , , 4–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 21–21–2 , , 44 , - , 45 , , January 20 , ,

, , 10–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 21–22–2 , , 44 , - , 46 , , January 23 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–7 , ,

, , 21–23–2 , , 44 , - , 47 , , January 24 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 6–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 21–24–2 , , 44 , - , 48 , , January 26 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 21–24–3 , , 45 , - , 49 , , January 27 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–1 , ,

, , 22–24–3 , , 47 , - , - , 50 , , February 1 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 23–24–3 , , 49 , - , 51 , , February 4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–5 , , New York Raiders , , 23–25–3 , , 49 , - , 52 , , February 7 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 0–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–25–3 , , 51 , - , 53 , , February 8 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–5 , ,

, , 24–26–3 , , 51 , - , 54 , , February 10 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–5 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 24–27–3 , , 51 , - , 55 , , February 11 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–27–4 , , 52 , - , 56 , , February 14 , ,

, , 6–3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–28–4 , , 52 , - , 57 , , February 16 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 2–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–28–5 , , 53 , - , 58 , , February 17 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–29–5 , , 53 , - , 59 , , February 20 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 24–30–5 , , 53 , - , 60 , , February 22 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–4 , , Houston Aeros , , 24–31–5 , , 53 , - , 61 , , February 24 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–3 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 25–31–5 , , 55 , - , 62 , , February 25 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–4 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 25–32–5 , , 55 , - , - , 63 , , March 3 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–3 , , Houston Aeros , , 26–32–5 , , 57 , - , 64 , , March 4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–3 , , Houston Aeros , , 27–32–5 , , 59 , - , 65 , , March 6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–3 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 27–33–5 , , 59 , - , 66 , , March 8 , ,

, , 7–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 27–34–5 , , 59 , - , 67 , , March 9 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–11 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 27–35–5 , , 59 , - , 68 , , March 11 , , New York Raiders , , 1–6 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 28–35–5 , , 61 , - , 69 , , March 12 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 6–4 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 29–35–5 , , 63 , - , 70 , , March 16 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–4 , ,

, , 29–36–5 , , 63 , - , 71 , , March 17 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 0–3 , ,

, , 29–37–5 , , 63 , - , 72 , , March 20 , ,

, , 1–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 30–37–5 , , 65 , - , 73 , , March 24 , ,

, , 4–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 31–37–5 , , 67 , - , 74 , , March 25 , ,

, , 5–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 31–38–5 , , 67 , - , 75 , , March 27 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–6 , ,

, , 31–39–5 , , 67 , - , 76 , , March 29 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 5–3 , ,

, , 32–39–5 , , 69 , - , 77 , , March 31 , , Houston Aeros , , 1–5 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 33–39–5 , , 71 , - , - , 78 , , April 1 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3–8 , ,

, , 33–40–5 , , 71 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972-73 Quebec Nordiques Season Quebec Nordiques seasons Que

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

1970s in Quebec City 1972 in sports in Quebec 1973 in sports in Quebec